Tension device for planter check-wires.



w. J. LUNDGRBN. TENSION DEVICE FOR PLANTER GHEGK WIRES. APPLICATION FILED 0OT.12,1908.

909,196. Patented Jan12,1909.

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WALTER J. LUNDGREN, OF WILLMAR, MINNESOTA.

TENSION DEVICE FOR PLAHTEB GEEK-WIRES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed. ()ctober 12, 1908.

Patented Jan. 12, 1909.

Serial No. 1151221.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, WALTER J. LUND- GREN, a citizen of the United States, residing at lVillmar, in the county of Kandiyohi and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tension Devices for Planter Check-Wires; and l do hereby declare the following to be a full,

clear, and eXact description of the invention,

- panying drawings wherein like references refor to like parts throughout the several views.

In said drawings; Figure 1 is a plan view showing my improved tension device in working position. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the device in working position, with some parts broken away.

The numeral 1 represents one end of a check wire.

The numeral 2 represents a draw bar detachably connected to the wire 1.

The numeral 3 represents the anchor bar, and the numeral 4 a post or stake by which the parts 1, 2 and 3 are anchored to the ground.

The draw bar 2 is provided on its under edge, as shown, with ratchet teeth 5. The anchor bar 3 is provided with an upturned forward end having a guide passage 6 therein for the draw bar 2, and the lower wall of this passage 6 is of the proper shape to serve as a pawl lug 7 for engagement with the teeth of the draw bar. The anchor bar 3 is pro vided with a longitudinal slot 8, and the outer end of the draw bar 2 is turned downward; and this downturned end works in the slot 8 of the anchor bar and is provided with. a pair of pins 9 of the proper length to span the slot 8 and so applied as to engage the l walls of the slot 8 and be guided thereby.

In virtue of this relation of the parts 2 and 3, as described, it is obvious that the draw bar 2 is guided by the anchor bar 3, while, at the same time, the said two parts are so connected that they will not become separated,

but one can be moved lengthwise of the other.

The numeral 10 represents a double coil still spring applied with its opposite ends secured one to the draw bar 2 and the other to the anchor bar 3, with the coils of the spring above the bars, as best shown in Fig. 2. Assuming that the spring 10 is under compression, it is obvious that it will tend to separate the said bars; or, otherwise stated, to slide the draw bar 2 lengthwise of the anchor bar 3 if the pawl and ratchet members are disengaged. The guide passage 6 for the draw bar 2, in the upturned end of the anchor bar 3 is of a little greater height than the said draw bar; and, hence, it follows that by pressing down on the upturned end of the anchor bar, or lifting up on the inner end of the draw bar, the pawl and ratchet members may be disengaged, so as thereby to make the spring active to slide the draw bar 2 lengthwise of the anchor bar 3, if the spring be under sui'licient compression to do so.

The object of this device is to secure substantially uniform tension on the check wire 1 when in working position. To this end, said device is manipulated as follows: When the check wire is to be removed to a new position, the pawl and ratchet members are disengaged and the devices are all carried over to the new position. Then, before set ting the anchor stake 4, the anchor bar 3 is pulled outward lengthwise of the draw bar 2 until the pawl lug 7 is made to engage any desired member of the teeth 5. In thus pulling the anchor bar 3 lengthwise of the draw bar 2, the stake 4 may be used as a handle. It will be understood that the distant end of the check wire 1 is fast to its anchor stake at the opposite end of the field. By thus pulling the anchor bar 3 outward, lengthwise of the draw bar 2, the spring 10 is, of course, compressed; and by selecting the desired member of the teeth. 5 for engagement with the pawl lug 7, the spring may be set to uniform tension every time that the device is shifted from one check row to another. The application of the spring 10, located as shown and described in relation to the parts of the bars 2 and 8, afl'ords a pressure tending to hold the pawl and ratchet members engaged with each other, as well as to hold the draw bar under yielding tension in respect to the anchor bar 3, when the parts are in working position, as shown in Fig. 2.

What I claim is 1. The combination with a check wire draw bar having ratchet teeth, of an anchor bar having a pawl lug adapted to engage secured one to each of said two bars, sub- .2

5 with the teeth of said draw bar, and a coiled spring having its opposite ends secured one to each of said two bars, substantially as described; 7

2. The combination with a check wire adapted to engage with the teeth of said draw bar, with the said parts so-related that the draw bar is guided by the anchor bar, and acoiled spring having its opposite ends stan'tial-ly as described.

In testimony whereof I afiiX my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

WALTER J. LUNDGREN. Witnesses:

H. D. KILGORE, M. E. RONEY; 

